The final day of Aspen Farms Horse Trials and the USEA Area VII Championships in Yelm, Wash. delivered sun and mild temperatures as nearly 300 competitors made their final bids to secure top placings and prizes in divisions from Beginner Novice to Advanced.

Sabrina Glaser of Canada and Rembrandt, a 9-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Patricia Yust, maintained their overnight lead to win the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Advanced division. The pair jumped clear in show jumping with just one time fault to finish on a score of 34.7, nearly 20 points ahead of the second place finishers.

“I thought [Rembrandt] was solid and confident right from the get go,” Sabrina reflected after her show jumping ride. “He was steadier and more relaxed in his dressage test than he has been in the past. He went around cross-country pretty much on autopilot, and he finished strong with a solid effort today. He had his heart in the game the whole weekend.”

Sabrina has brought Rembrandt along in his training since she started him under saddle at age three. “This year he feels like he has really figured his job out,” she said. “As the season has gone on, he’s gotten more and more confident.” Looking ahead, the pair have entered their first CIC3* together at Woodside International Horse Trials this fall.

For their win in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup, Sabrina and Rembrandt earned $2,000 from Tin Men Supply, a $350 Nunn Finer gift certificate, a Gallops Saddlery leather halter, Fits breeches, an Adequan shirt, a $50 USEA gift certificate, a Deco Pony custom name plate, and a Nupafeed gift card. They also qualified to compete in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships in Colorado.

Young rider Sophie Click and Amy Click's 14-year-old Paint gelding, Hot Wheels, completed their first Advanced and secured second place in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup with 53.3. Andrea Nielsen and her 10-year-old Irish Draught gelding, LC O’Shawnisee (Snoford O'Donnell x Acks Like an Angel), finished close behind in third with 53.6.

Over $25,000 in cash and prizes was awarded to competitors thanks to the generous sponsors of Aspen Farms, including long-time supporters Toklat, Gallops Saddlery, Olson’s Tack, Kerrits, and many more. Anne-Sophie Levesque of Canada won the $250 sportsmanship award sponsored by Dougie Hannum.

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced horse trials and CIC3* levels. The qualifying period begins August 2017 and continues through August 2018 with the final taking place at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, August 29 – September 2, 2018. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced Division.

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nutrena, Merck Animal Health, and FITS.

We all work hard to get our horses shiny and clean for competition day, but it can sometimes take a bit of extra elbow grease to get those grey or white horses looking their best. Rachael Livermore, head groom for Sharon White at Last Frontier Farm, shares some of the tricks she uses to get Sharon's horses looking spick and span - and it starts with everyday care!

This is it! The weekend we've all been waiting for is finally here - the return to competition has arrived! After nearly three months of suspended competitions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the country and the world, riders are shining up their boots and preparing to trot down the centerline. While our "new normal" will certainly look different than things did before the pandemic, these new regulations are in place for all our safety.